Switch-operating apparatus



April 29, N c OV LL SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed April '7. 1928 Inventor MC. Lozrel] A tlorneys Patented Apr. 29, 1930 UNITED STATES NOLAN O. LOVELL, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA SWITCH-OPERATIN G APPARATUS Application filed April 7,

My invention relates to electric switch op erating devices, more particularly to low voltage electro-magnetically operated devices for the remote control of high voltage switches and has for its objectthe provision of a device of the character designated which shall be simple and economical of design and re liable in operation. v

A I further object of my invention is to provide a low voltage elect-ro-magnetic device of the character designated wherein the low voltage circuit is completed only during the time the high voltage switch is being opened or closed.

A stillfurther object of my invention is to provide a low voltage electro-magnetic device of the character designated wherein the movable parts thereof are reduced to a minimum and wherein the movements of the mov able parts are effected entirely by electromagnets, whereby the apparatus is extremely reliable in operation and not likely to get out of order.

As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, it is sometimes necessary for the controlling means of a high voltage electric circuit to be located at a point remote from the energy translating apparatus in the circuit. For example, in electric lighting sys may be located at a plurality of points remote from the light controlled; the controlling means for a motor may also be more conveniently located at a point or points remote from the motor. The value of low voltage operated devices for the switches of such energy tran'slating'apparatus, together with the location of the switches near the energy translating apparatus, has long been recognized With a reliable low voltage operated device, the cost of wiring'may be materially reduced, as well as the danger inherent in complicated high voltage wiring systems. Numerous devices of this general characterhave already been proposed, but their general adoption has been delayed largely because of their complicated character, involving a multiplicity of parts, operated both mechanically and electrically, with consequent high cost of manufacture and. liability to get o t Of order low voltage operated switch controlling appatems,'the controlling means for a single light 1928. "Serial No. 268,361.

and become inoperative. It is the principal object of my invention, therefore, to simplify the construction, cheapen the manufacture and lncrease the reliability of operation of ratus.

Briefly, my invention comprises a pair of opposed, spaced electro-magnets in parallel 1n a low voltage circuit, a pair of opposed solenoids having connected, movable cores associated with the electro-magnets, a flex- 1ble armature element movable with the movable cores and extending between the opposed electro-magnets to be attracted to the nearest. and'contact means carried by the flexible armature element and the electromagnets, respectively, for alternately completing the circuits through the solenoids. The circuit through the e1ectro-magnetsand the solenoids is controlled by simple push buttons which may be located at a plurality of convenient points. Upon actuation of either of the solenoid cores, the high voltage switch is either opened or closed.

The single figure of the drawing, forming a part of this application, shows a plan view of my improved switch operating mechanism, together with a wiring diagram to illustrate its operation.

Referring to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show a high voltage circuit 10 having an energy translating device 11 therein controlled by a switch comprising stationary elements 12 and a movable element 1-3. The energy translating device may be any device known to the art utilizing a relatively high volt-age and in which it is desirable to operate the controlling switch therefor from a point or points remote from the switch.

' The controlling switch for the energy translating device 11 is operated by means of my improved mechanism, which will now be described. A low voltage circuit embodying wires 14 and 16 is supplied, for example, with current by a transformer 17. The low voltage circuit is controlled by a plurality of push buttons 18 any one of which may be utilized to complete the circuit and i h y be h ated at any d ir d pomts J from which the apparatus is to be operated. A pair of opposed, spaced electro-magnets 19 and 21 and having circuits 22 and 23 in parallel and supplied from the low voltage circuit 14, 16 are. mounted on suitable frame members 24 and 26 secured to a base member 27. a

Also mounted on the frame members 24 and 26 area pair of opposed solenoids 29 and 31. The solenoids 29 and 31 are provided with movable cores 32 and 33, respectively, both adapted to move in the plane of the op posed electro-magnets 19 and 21. The core 32'is secured to a bar 36 and the core 33 is secured to a bar 37. The bars 36 and 37 are joined together by means of rods 38 and 39. The bar 38 passes through holes 41 42in the members 24 and 26, respectively, the holes forming bearings for the rod 38. The

' rod 39 passes through holes 43 and 44 in the members 24 and 26, respectively, the holes 43 and 44 providing bearings for the rod 39. By this means, the cores 32 and 33 are adapted to move in unison when one of the solenoids 29 or 31 is energized.

Secured at one end to the rod 38 is a flexible armature 51 which extends across the apparatus and has its other free end opposite cores 52 and 53 of the electro-magnets 19 and 21. The circuits for the solenoids 29 and 31 are completed alternately as follows :-The wire 14 is provided with a terminal 56 on the base member 27 and a loose flexible wire 57.connects the terminal 56 with the flexible armature 51. With the device in the position shown in the drawing, the current from the wires 14 and 57 flows through the flexible.

armature 51 to the core 52, which acts as a contact member, and thence through a wire 58 to one end of the solenoid 29. To the other end of the solenoid 29 is connected 2. wire 61 leading to the wire 16 and, if one of the push buttons 18 be held down, the circuit is completed and the solenoid 29 is energized.

The armature 51 and wire '57 act as a com-' mon lead for both solenoid circuits. If the solenoid cores be moved to the other limit of travel, from the position shown in the drawmg,

through the flexible armature 51, the core 53,

a wire 66 connected to the core'53, though the solenoid 31, thence through a branch wire 67 I the solenoid 29 while the core 33 is entirely in connected to the wire'16 of the low voltage circuit and thence to the push button 18. The

switch element 13 is secured to the bar 37 so that, when the movable cores 32 and 33 move from the position shown in the drawings to the other limit of travel, the element 13 engages with the elements 12 to close the high voltage switch and put the translating device 11 in operation. It will be noted in the drawing that the core 32 is part way out of the solenoid 31 so that, upon completion of the circuit through the solenoid 29, the two and the circuit for the solenoid 31 is madev understood. With the parts in the position shown, if any one of the push buttons 18 be used to complete the low voltage circuit, both electro-magnets 19 and 21 are energized. The armature 51, being nearer the electro-magnet 19, is held tightly against the core 52, completing the circuit through the solenoid 29,

while the circuit through the solenoid 31 remains open. Upon energization of the solenoid 29, the core 32 is drawn inwards while the core 33 is pushed outwards of the solenoid 31 and the high voltage switch is closed. During this time, the end of the flexible armature 51 is-held against the core 52 until the push button 18 is released. The secured end of the flexible armature having moved with the cores, when the push button 18 is -re leased, the free end swings over against the core 53.

Should one of the push buttons 18 be'again held down to complete the low voltage circuit, the electro-magnet 21 holds the flexible armature against the core 53 and completes the circuit through the solenoid 31, causin the cores 32 and 33 to move in anopposite irection to that just described, separating the switch elements 13 .and 12 and opening the high voltage switch. During this time, the flexible armature 51 is held in contact with thecore 53 as longas the electro-magnet 21 is energized. Upon release of the push button 18, breaking the low voltage circuit, the free end of the flexible armature 51 swings back to the position shown in the drawing.

Shouldthe cores 32 and 33, with their connecting rods 38 and 39, become accidentally displaced so that the flexible armature 51 is to the nearest electro-magnet and the device functions in the manner already described. From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an electro-magnetically operated switch controlling apparatus which is simple of design, economical of manufacture, and reliable in operation.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be laced thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a switch operatingapparatus, a pair of spaced opposed electro-magnets, a pair of opposed solenoids having connected movable cores adapted to reciprocate adjacent the electro-magnets, a flexible armature actuated by the movable cores and lying between the electro-magnets, a low voltage circuit in which the electro-magnets and the solenoids are included, a switch for completing the circuit through both electro-magnets simultaneously, contact members carried by the flexible armature and the electro-magnets respectively for alternately completing the circuit through the solenoids, and a high voltage switch operated by movement of the solenoids.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the connecting means for the solenoid cores comprises a reciprocable frame to which the cores are secured, and wherein an element of the high voltage switch is mounted directly on the reciprocable frame.

3. In a switch operating apparatus, a pair of spaced opposed electro-magnets adapted to become energized simultaneously, a flexible armature disposed between the electromagnets and adapted to be attracted to the nearest electro-magnet, a pair of opposed solenoids associated with the electro-magnets, a reciprocable carriage connecting the cores of the solenoids, a flexible armature mounted on the carriage and having one end lying between the electro-magnets to reciprocate therebetween, a relative y high voltage switch operated by the carriage, a normally open low voltage circuit through the electromagnets, a circuit through each of the solenoids, means for alternately completing the solenoid circuits through the flexible armature, and push button means controlling the low voltage circuits.

4. In a switch operating mechanism, a low voltage circuit, a switch for the circuit, a pair of electro-magnets in parallel in the circuit and energized upon closing the switch, a pair of opposed solenoids, movable cores for the solenoids, a movable carriage connecting the cores to adapt them for reciprocation upon alternate energization of the solenoids, a flexible armature element mounted on the carriage and extending between the opposed electro-magnets, a common return wire for the solenoid circuits carried by the flexible armature, contact means for alternately com pleting the solenoid circuits and carried by the electro-magnets and the flexible armature respectively, and a switch operated by the carriage.

5. Mechanism as set forth in claim 4, wherein the low voltage switch is normall open and is momentarily closed by a push button to energize the low voltage circuits and open or close the high voltage switch.

6. In a magnetically operated switch conby the connecting means and extended to lie between theopposed electro-magnets and be attracted to the nearest electro-magnet when said magnets are energized, a common wire for the two solenoids connected to the flexible armature, and contact means carried by the flexible armature and the electro-magnets, respectively, for alternately completing the circuit through the solenoids.

7 In a switch operating mechanism, a low voltage circuit, an electro-magnet in the circuit and energized when the circuit is closed, a solenoid in parallel with the electro magnet, a second electro-magnet energized when the circuit is closed and having an associated solenoid in parallel with the first mentioned electro-magnet and solenoid and opposed thereto, said electro-magnets being in spaced relation, connected movable cores for the solenoids and adapted to reciprocate in the plane of the electro-magnets, contact members carried by the opposed electro-magnets and each co nnected with its associated solenoid, a flexible armature movable with the solenoids and extending between the opposed electro-magnets to be attracted to the nearest electromagnet, a contact member carried by the flexible armature to coact with the contact member of the nearest electro-magnet when saidelectro-magnet is energized, a common wire for the circuits of the two solenoids carried by the flexible armature, a switch operated by the movable cores, and a plurality of push buttons each adapted to complete the low voltage circuit.

In, testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

NOLAN O. LOVELL.

trolling mechanism, a low voltage circuit,

push button switch means for controlling the circuit, a pair of spaced opposed electromagnets in parallel in the circuit and energized when the circuit is closed, a. pair of 

